Developer who paid USD 500,000 bribe to Los Angeles councilman sentenced to 6 years in federal prison

Hes scheduled to be sentenced on September 25. Under a plea agreement, Huizar agreed to seek a sentence of at least nine years in prison, prosecutors said.In addition to Huizar, more than a half-dozen other people have been convicted or pleaded guilty to federal charges in the scheme, including Huizars brother, Salvador Huizar.Esparza pleaded guilty in July 2020 to one count of racketeering conspiracy and testified against Lee at his trial.Former Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan is awaiting retrial next year on federal charges of racketeering conspiracy.

A real estate developer was sentenced on Friday to six years in federal prison for paying USD 500,000 in bribes to a Los Angeles city councilman for help with a downtown project.

Dae Yong Lee, also known as "David Lee", also was fined USD 750,000 and a company that he controlled was fined USD 1.5 million plus prosecution costs, the US attorney's office said in a statement.

Prosecutors said that in 2017, Lee bribed Jose Huizar and the councilman's special assistant to help resolve a labour organisation's appeal that was blocking approval of a planned development that was to include more than 200 residences and some 14,000 square feet (1,300 square metres) of commercial space.

At the time, Huizar chaired the city's powerful Planning and Land Use Management Committee.

In 2017, Lee made three cash payments totalling USD 500,000 to Huizar's assistant, George Esparza, prosecutors said.

Last year, Lee and the company were convicted of bribery, honest services wire fraud and falsifying records in federal investigations to conceal the bribes.

The sentence was the latest in a sweeping corruption case swirling around Huizar, whom authorities said ran a pay-to-play bribery scheme from 2013 to 2017 tied to the approval of downtown high-rise developments.

Huizar pleaded guilty in January to racketeering conspiracy and tax evasion. He's scheduled to be sentenced on September 25. Under a plea agreement, Huizar agreed to seek a sentence of at least nine years in prison, prosecutors said.

In addition to Huizar, more than a half-dozen other people have been convicted or pleaded guilty to federal charges in the scheme, including Huizar's brother, Salvador Huizar.

Esparza pleaded guilty in July 2020 to one count of racketeering conspiracy and testified against Lee at his trial.

Former Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan is awaiting retrial next year on federal charges of racketeering conspiracy. Prosecutors allege that he accepted more than USD 100,000 to help a Chinese real estate developer.

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